Lamp-socket support for show-case reflectors



y 1930. J. TAussle 1,757,346

LAMP SOCKET SUPPORT FOR SHOWCASE REFLECTORS Filed April 15, 1929 Q 15,12 26 /5 70 9 23 Z7 fZ Patented May 6, 1930 PATENT QFFICE JOSEPH TAUSSIG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LAMP-SOCKET SUPPORT FOR SHOW-CASE REFLEGTORS Application filed April 15,

This invention relates to lamp socket supports for showcase reflectors, and its princip a1 object is to provide a swiveled supportlng connection between a reflector, such as is com:

5 monly used for illuminating the interiors of showcases, which connection shall permit the socket to be turned upon its support to facilitate the insertion or removal of an electric light bulb and for the purpose of cleaning the reflecting surface behind the bulb. Another object is to provide, an extremely simple, cheap and eflicient swivel connection between the lamp socket and the reflector which may be readily installed in the reflector.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawing accompanying this specification in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertlcal longitudinal section, of a lamp socket support embodying a simple form of the invention, the line of section being indicated at 11 in Fig. 3;

r Fig. 2 is a view of the parts seen in Fig. 1, looking from below and showing certain parts broken out along the section line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross section taken on the line 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of a sup porting plate looking in the direction 0pposite to that seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of another plate which forms part of the support looking in the direction opposite to that seen in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail under plan of the supporting plates and a fragment of the lamp socket.

Referring to said drawing, the reference character 7 designates a showcase reflector 5 of conventional form over which is secured a case or cover 8. The reflector is polygonal in cross section, as seen in Fig. 3, and is formed with flanges 9 which are overlapped by flanges 10 formed on the case or cover 8. The reflector forms a channel or trough in 1929. Serial No. 355,103.

which are contained a number of incandescent electric light bulbs, one of which is seen at 11, that supply the light which is reflected by the inner reflecting surfaces of the reflector into the interior of the showcase.

The electric light bulbs are preferably of U the tubular kind illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and are contained wholly within the channel of the reflector. In order to facilitate the insertion or removal of the electric light bulbs into their sockets and to enable persons to clean behind the light bulbs, the sockets 12 in which the light bulbs are contained are each provided with a swivel connection with the reflector, which connection forms the subject matter of this specification, and the parts which comprise the connection will now be described.

Secured to the flat wall 13 of the reflector, as by screws or the like 14:, is a supporting plate 15, formed of sheet metal struck up with suitable dies, and having a central aperture 16 through which extends a tubular rivet 17 that connects the lamp socket 12 with the supporting plate 15. The supporting plate 15 is formed with two forwardly extending lugs 18 at one side of its vertical center, which lugs form stops or shoulders for limiting the extent of movement of the lamp socket and the electric light bulb supported therein.

The lamp socket 12 is preferably formed on one side with a rib 19 which extends lengthwise of the lamp socket. and between the supporting plate 15 and rib 19 of the lamp socket is a plate 20 formed of resilient material and having forwardly bent flanges 21 that embrace the sides of the rib 19 and prevent relative angular movement between the plate 20 and lamp socket 12 when the parts are as sembled. Between the plates 15 and 20 is a washer 22. The plate 20 is formed with a bent up spring tongue 23, which, when the parts are assembled, presses against the face of the plate 15, thereby creating sufficient friction between the plates 15 and 20 to hold the lamp socket 12 in any position of adjustment. The plate 15 has a centrally located struck up recess 15 into which the tongue snaps to hold the socket in its proper place in the reflector. The tongue 23 has a limited amount of angular movement between the stops or shoulders 18 of the supporting plate 15, thereby permitting the lamp socket 12 to be moved through a corresponding angle.

The hollow rivet 17 extends through the supporting plate 15, the washer 22, the spring plate 20 and through the Wall of the lamp socket 12 and is headed down upon the outer side of the supporting plate 15 and the inner side of the wall of the lamp socket. Thehollow rivet forms a swivel connection between the lamp socket 12 and the supporting plate 15 upon which the lamp socket may be turned within the limits of the stops or shoulders 18.

The lamp socket contains the usual screw shell 24 and center contact piece 25 for making electrical connection with an incandescent light bulb 11, and to said screw shell and center contact piece are secured the two electric conductors 26 which lead out through the tubular rivet and out through an aperture 27 formed in the flat wall 13 of the reflector and into. a conduit 28 formed between the outer face of said straight portion of the reflector and the outercasing or cover 8. The conductors 26 are,.of course, connected to the main electric conductors for the electric light circuit, and as many lamp sockets may be provided in the reflector as is found desirable.

The lamp socket and electric light bulb are shown in full lines in the position they occupy in the reflector when in use. 7 A person wishing to replace an electric light bulb or to 1 obtain access behind the same, takes hold of the electric light bulb and swings the same, together with the lamp socket in an outward direction into the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with the tongue 23 striking against the lower lug 18 of the supporting plate 15. The electric light bulb and socket are returned to place by merely pushing the electric light bulb back into the channel of the reflector, the spring tongue 23 serving to fric-.

tionally hold the parts in any position of adj u stm ent.

By placing a lug 18 at each side of the'supporting plate 15, the same plate may be used for lamp sockets facing either towards the right or towards the left in the channel of the reflector. It is to be observed that the parts forming the swivel connections are few in number and may be formed of sheet metal struck up with suitable dies. The device may be readily attached to reflectors of conventional form, thereby making it possible to use swiveled lamp sockets in connection therewith.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

"L-T bracing a member of a lamp socket, and a,

tubular rivet forming a swivel connection between said plates, upon which the second named plate and lamp socket may be turned to bring a lamp bulb carried by said socket into and out of the channel of the reflector and said tubular rivet forming a passageway through which electric conductors may pass from the lamp socket to the back of the reflector.

2. A lamp socket support for reflectors comprising a stationary supporting plate having outstanding lugs formed thereon and a centrally located recess, means for securing said plate to a wall of a channeled reflector, a movable plate having a spring tongue bearing against said supporting plate and adapted to enter said recess, said tongue being movable between the lugs thereof, said movable plate having also spaced flanges projecting from two of its side edges and adapted to embrace a rib of a lamp socket to prevent relative angular movement between said movable plate and lamp socket, and a tubular rivet extending-through the'rib'of said lamp socket and through said plates and securing said parts together.

3. The combination with a channel reflector and a lamp socket, of a supporting plate having outstanding lugs formed thereon, means for securing said plate to the inner face of a wall of said reflector, a movable plate having a spring tongue bearing against said first mentioned plate, and movable between the lugs thereof, said movable plate having also a pair of flanges projecting from two side edges thereof, and the lamp socket having a rib on one side which is embraced by said flanges, and a tubular rivet extending through said rib of-the lamp socket and through both of said plates for securing said parts together.

l. The combination with a channeled reflector having a conduit for electric conductors, and a lamp socket, of a supporting plate having outstanding lugs formed thereon, means for securing said plate to the. inner face of a wall of said reflector, a movable plate having a spring tongue bearing against said first mentioned plate and movable between the lugsthereof, said movable plate having also a pair of flanges projecting from two side edges thereof, and the lamp socket having a ribon one side which is embraced by said flanges, and a tubular rivet extending through said rib of the lamp socket and through both ofsaid plates for securing said parts together, said tubular rivet forming an outlet from the interior of the lampsocket to the interior of the conduit for electric conductors comingfrom the lamp socket.

5. The combination with a channeled reflector having a conduit for electric conductors, and a lamp socket having a rib formed on its wall, of a supporting plate formed withtwo spaced lugs projecting from its. side 

